He shifted his weight around and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open. Sure enough, badge and ID. “Hold on, there,” she said. She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, poising over the open wallet to snap a picture.

 He put his hand over hers, redirecting the phone lens. “Does this mean you’re going to find out if I’m real before you go out with me?”

 She shrugged. “I might find out if you’re real before I give you advice on melons again or warn you off the macaroni salad in the deli. A date has never occurred to me. Or interested me.”

 He let go of the phone, allowing her to take the picture. “You’re brutal. Knock yourself out.”

 She snapped the picture. “What kind of detective are you?” she asked.

 “Property crimes.”

 “And that is?”

 “Be careful about making friendly conversation, Riley. You might be acting less like a meanie and more like a girl. Property crimes, burglary. Someone stole your computer and your diamond ring and I’m going to get them back for you. They did not rob you—robbery is when there’s a weapon involved.”

 “A deadly weapon?” she asked, intrigued.

 He raised one brow. “Any weapon could be deadly. A spoon could be deadly if you know how to use it. Property crimes is property stolen from private property—your house, your business, your car, your person, without the spoon, of course.” He grinned stupidly.

 “And why do I keep running into you?”

 “This little shopping center is between work and my house. And I’m in the field a lot. But running into you all the time is one of the perks. So—what do you think? Dinner? Hike? Bike ride? Conventional date?”

 “Coffee,” she said. “We’re having coffee. I don’t date.”

 “I didn’t see a ring...”

 She shook her head. “Not married, just not dating.”

 “You have to have a reason,” he informed her.

 “No,” she said. “I don’t.”

 “Do you mind if I ask—what do you do?”

 “I do mind, but I’ll tell you, but only because I think you really are a policeman. I own a small business. Plus, I’m a single mother and have an elderly mother. So you see, very busy.”

 He closed the computer and leaned an elbow on it. “Look, I admit I’ve been hanging out at the grocery store a lot since you advised me on produce. Can’t this be any easier? I’m overstocked in melons. What do you like to do besides work? Maybe we could go for a run? Play catch in the park? Meet for coffee a lot?”

 “Why?” she asked.

 He tilted his head. “I’m attracted to you?”

 “Was that a question?” she asked.

 “I haven’t been out with a woman in a while. Well, haven’t had a date with a woman. My partner is a woman, married to a great big firefighter, three little kids. My sister and ex-wife are best friends and believe me, their attempts at fixing me up are miserable...”

 “Oh, God, that must be interesting! Your sister and your ex-wife?”

 “It’s awful. But see, I’m interesting,” he said, triumphant. He looked around. “Would you like something to eat? Doughnut?”

 She laughed at him because he was so ridiculous. Also, undeniably cute. “So it’s true—cops and doughnuts.”

 “I was thinking of you. I’ve had my quota today. Come on, Riley. Let’s just plan something. It can be public, daylight, completely safe and platonic. I’ll show you my gun,” he said, lifting his eyebrows, Groucho Marx style.

 She laughed again. “No,” she said. She stood up. “See you in produce,” she said, walking out.

 It took him a moment to get his computer put away in his canvas bag and grab his coffee, following her. “Hang on,” he yelled. He caught up with her and handed her a business card. “This will make your mission easier.”

 She looked at it. Sgt. Logan Danner, Santa Rosa Police, Property Crimes. Along with a phone number and extension.

 “Would you like my cell number?” he asked.

 “No.”

 “It’s on the card anyway. Come on, Riley. I bet we’d have fun.”

 She turned before getting in her car. “No. And if you follow me, I’ll call your boss. I’ll tell on you.”

 “Hey, no worries. My boss likes me,” he said.

 Riley headed for home. But she smiled the whole way. He was handsome in a very hot way and adorably funny. He was tempting.

 Whoa, Riley, she thought. Really? Tempting? Now that’s a first. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been flirted with or asked out on a date before. She’d actually been out a few times—nothing to write home about. Definitely no relationship stuff. It wasn’t frequent since she hung out at work, at home, with Maddie and her mom, shopping for food and clothes, taking the occasional run...

 Did he know about the running? Oh, if he’d been watching her, she was going to turn him in to his boss and tell Adam. Adam was very protective.

 But for the first time in many, many years, she was feeling like maybe a casual friendship with a man might interest her. She wondered if seeing Emma and having that first confrontation behind her had anything to do with her change of mood.

 But really, did he know about her running? Because if he did, she was going to deal harshly with him.

 Still, she chuckled to herself. And I have his badge number.